Many opponents of school choice say parents should not have more freedom to choose which schools their children attend. They think greater choice will lead to the re-segregation of students by race and income.

This argument not only displays a serious lack of confidence in the people of Michiganit isn't supported by the evidence.

It just so happens that Michigan schools already are among the most segregated in the country, according to a recent study by the Harvard University Civil Rights Project. If Michigan's schools are already segregated, how could school choice make them more so?

Another thing you may not know: Private schoolsthe very schools opponents of school choice fear parents will chooseare far more racially integrated than public schools. A study by the University of Texas confirms that "private schools tend to offer a more racially integrated environment than do public schools." Public schools replicate the segregation found in their attendance areas, while private schools draw from a variety of neighborhoods.

What it all boils down to is this: If you don't want to see a return to school segregation by race and income, that's no reason to oppose school choice. It's a reason to champion it.